The Barcelona Declaration

European citizens working for the better understanding of Diasporas’ place and contribution in European society : academics, civil society leaders, members of Diasporas, officials, parliamentarians and others, who met in Barcelona on January 27-29, 2005 for the conference “Europe’s Diasporas and European Citizenship”¹, wish to bring the following statement to the attention of all concerned:

1. The Diasporas of Europe form an integral part of the peoples of Europe. Though many have no territory within Europe to call their own, they have been full, permanent participants in European society for centuries. They number in the millions and include many different groups, cultures, and religions.
2. We understand “Diasporas of Europe” to be enduring human networks and communities, whose membership is entirely voluntary. While the individuals are citizens of the European Union and consider themselves part of Europe, of its culture and destiny, they also have important formal and informal links with fellow ethnic or religious communities with whom they share a past, present and future. Diaspora communities are thus a part of several overlapping identities, alongside national, European and other layers of belonging. Diasporas differ from other immigrant groups and territorial minorities in that local communities and individuals maintain links with others dispersed around the globe. These act as very real emotional and material resources.
3. Thanks to these dispersals, migrations, and linkages, Diasporas can contribute to the European project and to the development of a substantial European citizenship through their experiences of cross-cultural understanding, in adapting to new environments, in multilingualism, and in pioneering a pan-European identity. Moreover, these personal contacts, business relations, affinities for and knowledge of third countries may work to the EU’s advantage in terms of external and trade relations.
4. We draw attention to both the risks to which Diasporas are exposed, such as the erosion of cultures and languages, intolerance and misinformation or the disappearance of cultural heritage, and to the opportunities which European unification, international cooperation and technological development may bring with them.³ Both the Diasporas themselves and Europe as a whole have a vested interest in and a responsibility for working towards the preservation of their heritage and values.
5. The spirit and achievements of European integration must be extended to these groups, including the promotion of cultural, linguistic and religious diversity, free movement and participatory democracy³. This will allow Diasporas to envisage their futures as full partners in the design of Europe’s future and to fully contribute to the development of a European society.
6. Because Diasporas are scattered, often thinly, over the continent, Europe can be the appropriate level to formulate or coordinate public policy or to design public services which concern them. We invite fellow Europeans, and European policy-makers in particular, to recognize Diasporas as full and legitimate partners in the European project and as legitimate subjects of public policy.
7. European Citizenship should serve as a substantial link between Diasporas and the European project, giving the possibility to Diasporas to affirm themselves within the European context.
8. We invite all concerned to develop projects promoting cooperation between Diaspora networks, and between them and public authorities in all fields. We will in particular promote the creation of a Forum of European Diasporas⁴ in the spirit of this declaration and invite all interested to join us in this venture.

Barcelona, January 2005

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Notes:

1. The project “Europe’s Diasporas and European Citizenship” is organised by IYMF, CISC - University of Barcelona, ECAS, AGBU, Union Romani- Barcelona, and FYME, and funded by the European Commission and the Heinrich Boell Foundation. Sole responsibility for any publication or communication with regard to this project lies with the author. The Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information therein.
2. See also Recommendation 1688 (2004) Council of Europe on “Diaspora cultures”: “... Diaspora cultures constitute valuable networks for intellectual, cultural and educational exchange throughout Europe and the rest of the world. They are a key factor in the promotion of cultural diversity, intercultural understanding and tolerance”.
3. We refer in particular to articles I-45, I-46, I-52, II-80, II-81, II-82, III-280 of the Constitutional Treaty.
4. The forum shall be part of the Assembly of Cultures of Europe (ACE), as initiated by Lord Menuhin in 1997. For the conference proceedings and more information on the Forum of European Diasporas and ACE, please visit the conference website or www.menuhin-foundation.com.